Peer to Peer Magazine

26 What is Legal Project Management debt? In software development, "technical debt" or "design debt" refers to the cost of additional rework caused by choosing an inferior solution or design instead of using a better approach. Technical debt can be compared to monetary debt. If it is not repaid, it accumulates 'interest', making it harder to implement changes later down the line. Unaddressed technical debt creates unpredictability and sub-optimal outcomes. However, technical debt is not always a bad thing, and sometimes (e.g. as part of a proof-of-concept) technical debt is required to move projects forward. Looking at the legal services sector, the concept of "Legal Project Management debt" is a real concern for law firms looking to improve matter outcomes, while also providing predictable pricing and a great client experience. In this context Legal Project Management debt refers to key decisions and processes, including project scope, planning, resourcing, budgeting, reporting and governance. Although the merits of legal project management are now well understood, the concept of Legal Project Management debt does not appear to have been addressed. In this article, I will look at what causes Legal Project Management debt, its (hidden) consequences, which span people, process and technolo, and how you can avoid it on your next project. What causes Legal Project Management debt? At its heart, Legal Project Management debt is caused by a lack of application of project management principles and philosophy throughout the course of matter. There are many reasons for this, including the absence of a framework with practical tools and techniques to support legal project management practices, capability gaps within the project team and mind-set gaps i.e. a view that matters are inherently unpredictable or unique and not well suited to rigid project management techniques. The Untold Consequences of Legal Project Management Debt…And How To Avoid It B Y A N T H O N Y W I D D O P Legal Project Management Debt noun The accumulation of additional work: pre- engagement, during and post matter completion – that is due to a lack of application of project management disciplines throughout the matter lifecycle.

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